EVERY MORNING, people get up to work to sustain their lives, which often leads to fatigue and stress. However, psychologists and artisans say there is a way to alleviate this, through creative arts. They assert that people should give more importance to visual arts and crafts because in addition to entertaining people and relaxing them, it also helps to treat some of the mental illnesses. “Art is a tool used in therapy to help express emotions non-verbally. Sometimes people have so much trauma or experiences in the past that they don’t want to talk about anymore, but they still need to release the emotions that are inside, so, using art therapy is a very good technique,” says a psychologist who chose to spoke anonymously because she had no permission from her institution. The core relation between mental health and creative art is what makes it possible for it to be used to help people living with mental illness, continues the psychologist. “I use it when people are depressed or they have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those that have addiction, and those battling with other issues,” she said. It is a way again of expressing feelings and emotions through creativity, she added, and the science behind it is that, the act of doing something creative releases Thelatonin (the happy neurochemical), so when we engage in doing creative activities, we increase Thelatonin in our brain, which elevates your mood and makes you happier, calm, relaxed and peaceful. “So in case of stress and anxiety, being creative is extremely helpful,” she highlights. Bernard Birasa who is an artist on the mental aspect manner also says that art is much more than what meets the eye. He illustrates this by exemplifying one of his art pieces. “This portrait is named, ‘on a school desk’, if you go through it, I show a number of things, a book, a mathematical compass and much more, so this is a therapeutical art; it can help a stressed out person revitalize their brain and be able to speak,” Birasa noted. According to Yvan Ngenzi, the head of Rwanda art museum located in Kanombe sector, people need to consider their visit to the museum as a way of relaxation and healing their mental problems. “More people are still unaware of this, but creative arts can be a good therapeutical drug, if artisans had put an effort in this,” he commented. The role of arts in mental health saw Rwanda opening this museum back in 2018. Travelling, physical activities and vacations are mostly recommended for people with fatigue, but experts believe that participating in any form of creative arts can be a stress reliever regardless of whether one has the talent or not.
